NARM Training Institute

In the webinar, NARM Master Therapist, Sherri Sharkins and Dr. Laurence Heller discuss the topic of human suffering. They introduce the concept of "futuristic memory," where past unresolved experiences are projected into imagined future catastrophes. They explain that this futurizing process is a protective mechanism, but it can become paralyzing when it takes on a life of its own. They also discuss various categories of human suffering, including unavoidable suffering, suffering caused by how we relate to unavoidable suffering, and self-created suffering.

The presenters address how to work with these dynamics, both personally and with clients. They speak to how to be open to the suffering that we see all around us without being overwhelmed by it, and discuss the role projection plays on our experience of the suffering of others. They emphasize the importance of utilizing agency interventions and the emotional completion process, which integrates both top-down and bottom-up interventions. They then discuss how the five survival styles relate to self-created suffering and how understanding these styles can inform clinical work.